ABSTRACT
Numerous research studies have suggested that the educational systems of some developing countries favor males over females. The existence of substantial and persisting inequalities in educational attainment between males and females is rarely disputed. However, it is not clear if this hypothesis holds in developing countries with high literacy rates. The Philippines is a highly literate developing country where adult literacy in 2015 was estimated to be around 98%. Using the Philippines National Capital Region (NCR) as a case study, this chapter examines gender gaps in educational attainment at primary, secondary, and higher levels. Educational attainment data is extracted from the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Inequality is evaluated using the concentration index. Results widespread neighborhood variations and unexpected outcomes for gender inequality at different levels of attainment across the NCR.
